ZACHARY, La. (BRPROUD) – A man from East Baton Rouge Parish is accused of having sex with a girl that was half his age.

Police identified him as Jalon Harris, 24, of Baker. On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Zachary Police Department began looking into whether Harris had sex with the 12-year-old victim on “numerous occasions.”

As the investigation unfolded, detectives got messages that were shared between Harris and the victim. Those messages had to do with sexual intercourse and “detectives were able to gather evidence that connected Harris to the act,” according to the Zachary Police Department. Due to the ongoing investigation, ZPD was unable to share whether those messages were shared via social media.

Harris was charged with first-degree rape and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday, March 2. His bond was set at $1,000,000.

The Baker Police Department helped the Zachary Police Department during the investigation.